Speed and/or distracted driving appear to be contributing factors in Wednesday’s multi-vehicle crash on I-96 west of D-19/Pinckney Road in Howell Township that sent four people to area hospitals.
Wednesday’s accident, which happened at about 1:45 p.m., is the second this week in the area in which freeway construction is taking place. On Monday, a Fowlerville man was killed when the Dodge Ram he was driving hit the back of a semi truck and trailer that was stopped because of traffic.
The preliminary investigation by deputies with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office indicates that a 58-year-old Wisconsin man traveling west on I-96 in a semi-tractor and trailer failed to stop for halted traffic. Construction on I-96 has the three westbound lanes down to one just past D-19.
The semi-tractor first rear-ended a Chevrolet Equinox being driven by a 22-year-old Hemlock woman, and then a Ford Explorer being driven by a 58-year-old Lansing man.
After that initial collision, the semi-tractor continued west, rear-ending another semi-tractor and trailer from Canada, which was forced into the rear of another Ford Explorer and a GMC Acadia.
The 22-year-old Hemlock woman driving the Ford Explorer was transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing by Livingston County EMS with life threatening injuries. The Wisconsin man driving the semi-tractor and trailer was transported to The U of M Medical Center in Ann Arbor by Life Flight with serious injuries.
Two other individuals involved in the crash were transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing by Livingston County EMS with minor injuries.
The roadway remained closed for six hours for the investigation and extensive clean up.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by personnel from Howell Area Fire Department, Michigan State Police, Michigan State Motor Carriers, and Livingston County EMS.
This incident remains under investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Bureau.
